The Sprout: Notley holds fast on farm safety bill

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Good morning and happy Friday!

Here’s today’s agriculture news.

The Lead:

Alberta Premier Rachel Notley dug in her heels again Thursday, insisting her government will pass its highly contentious farm safety bill by the end of the year. Speaking to reporters at the legislature for the first time since returning from Paris and the COP21 conference, Notley tried to to quell a storm of discontent over her farm safety bill by saying it’s about safety and dignity.

The premier’s remarks came just hours after more than 1,000 protesters rallied on the steps of the legislature as a singer mocked Notley to the tune of the popular children’s song “Old MacDonald Had a Farm.” The Canadian Press has the latest from Edmonton.

In Canada:

American railway Norfolk Southern has rebuffed a takeover bid from Canada’s second largest railway, Canadian Pacific. As The Globe and Mail reports, Norfolk Southern Corp. has said no to a $29-billion takeover offer from Canadian Pacific Railway Ltd., describing it as “grossly undervalued” and unlikely to receive regulatory approval.

Canada’s trade deficit unexpectedly jumped to $2.76 billion (US$2.08 billion) in October as exports to the crucial U.S. market saw their largest drop in almost two and a half years, Statistics Canada data showed on Friday. Reuters explains.

Enforcement by the Agricultural Land Commission against weddings being held on local farms has sent waves of concern through British Columbia’s farming community and triggered a flurry of wedding cancellations. As Postmedia reports, dozens upon dozens of weddings are being cancelled across the province because farmers have been unable to secure the necessary permits.

Eight countries, including Japan and Morocco, have suspended imports of French poultry after the deadly H5N1 bird flu virus was detected in southwestern France, home to many foie gras and poultry producers, France’s agriculture ministry said on Thursday. Reuters has that story.

California’s supreme court has ruled consumers can file lawsuits under state law alleging food products are falsely labeled “organic.” As ABC News explains, Thursday’s ruling overturned a lower court decision that barred such suits on the grounds that they were superseded and not allowed by federal law.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has backed a deal between grain handler Viterra and South Australian exporters, guaranteeing long-term access to bulk wheat ports. ABC Rural has the details.